Delivering and winding cinematograph film



E. 1. WAY. DELIVERING AND WINDING CINEMATOGRAPH FILM. APPLICATION FILED NOV.26, 1920.

1 ,41 5, 1 3 1. Patented May 9, 1922;

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DELIVERING AND wmnme CINEMATOGRAPH mm.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-26,1920.

1 ,41 5, 1 3 1 Patented May 9, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Zn van/w? [Zwar ZZW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DELIVERING AND WINLDING OINEMATOGRAPH FILM.

Application filed November 26, 1920.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Eon Ann Jonn' MY, :1. British subject, residing at 134C to 136 Cullinan Buildings, Simmonds Street, .lohannesburg, Transvaal 'Province of the Union of South Africa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Do livering and Winding (linematograph Films for Projection, of which the following is a specification. w

The present invention has reference to the process of taking cinematograph film from an unused coil, and, after projecting it for exhibition, winding; the same as a used coil. As is well known the method at present coinmouly employed is to withdraw the film tromthe outer periphery of the unused coil and to wind it upon the spool tor the used coil. Consequently the resultingused coil is wound reversely from the unused coil from which it was formed. and. before it can be reprojected has to be rewound upon another spool so as to bring to the Ql'ltSldQ that end of the film which comes inside the used coil first-formed but which was outside the original unused coil; in other words, the re-winding reconstructs the original unused coil. 7 V

The extensive damage which films suffer in use, occurs principally during this operation of re-winding. The rewinding is etitected at a hi h rotational speed which frequently results in the film being broken or lcinked; and when kinking occurs the film is liable to break at the same point upon next being passed through the projector. .ln placing the coil upon the reel ior re-wini'ling or taking it off the same, the coil is Frequently drawn out axially in a cone; andv beatingin this cone to bring it flat causes horizontal striation of the film. Also the coil is wound with uneven tension and in order to make it uniform the operator twists it up by hand, resulting in vertical striation on the emulsion.

It is an object of the present invention to do away with this re-winding' of the film and its attendant drawbacks, by so deliver ing and winding the film that the unused and used coils are identical with one another, thus enabling the used coil to be reprojected without any further treatment.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. I is a side elevation of a projector embodying this invention.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 44263580.

Fig. II is a side elevation of the unused coil carrier, showing its attached parts in a different position trom Fig. I.

l in. III is a plan 'VlQW of Fig. ll.

Fig. IV is a plan oi? the unused coil carrier with parts broken away to exhibit the construction, and holding; a shorter film than. that shown in the other figures.

Fig. V shows a form for setting the apparatus.

Referring to Fig. l, 1 indicates the projector through the gate 2 of which the film is fed by mechanism 2-3. 4 indicates the prime mover which is shown as a hand crank and which is pOSl'tlVQly connected to the iced mechanism 3 to drive the same. 5 indicates the unused coil mounted upon a carrier 6. and 7 indicates the used coil wound upon a spool 8 which is driven in the usual man.- ner through a slipping clutch. The loop of film between the coil 5 and. the projectorls designated by 9.

The invention consists primarily in dclivcring jl'llm fl'Olll the internal periphery of the unused coil 5 at a linear speed which is equal to the speed ot the film due to the feed mechanism 3. A i'ter projection the film is wound in the usual way onto the spool 8 so that theused coil becomes at once a replica of the unused. coil.

F or thus delivering the film the iollon ing' mechanism provided: 10 a shatt which is driven positively by gearing; ll, l2. 13 from the prime mover it is squared to slide tll1'0l1,$2fll the near wheelll and, can both slide and rotate in the lited bearing 14: on the frame 15. Du said shaft 10 is a triotion wheel 1.6 which drives a friction disc provided, in the mechanism shown, by the under surface 17 of the carrier 6 thereby rotating; the same to cause the delivery of iilm from the coil As said iriction wheel 16 is rotated, it is also moved radially outwards in regard to the carrier 6 so that the angular speed of the carrier is constantly reduced in inverse ratio to the increase of the internal periphery of the unused coil 5, so keeping constant the linear speed ot'de livery of the film from the interior of said coil 5.

The radial position of the friction wheel 16 is directly governed by the internal diameter. of the unused coil 5. For this purpose the shaft 10 is provided with rigid flanges 18 embracing between them an arm 19 which projects beyond them and carries Patented May o, 19:22.

a rotatable spindle 20. Said spindle 20 is formed with a screw thread 21 by which it is secured to a slipper 22 carried for sliding movement on a guide and steadied by engagement with the shaft 10. Said slipper carries an arm 24 on the end of which is a I roller 25 which bears against the internal disposed as shown, to facil periphery of the coil 5. A light weight 26 or other appropriate device constantly urges the slipper 22 and its attached parts viz., the arm 24 and the friction wheel 16 radially outwards with regard to the coil 5. Said weight 26 is preferably such that it cannot produce movement of the friction wheel 16 until such movement is facilitated by rotation of the carrier 6. The friction wheel 16 is arranged at the same radial distance as the contact line of the roller 25. its filmis withdrawn from the internal. periphery of the coil 5 the roller 25 is still kept by the weight 26 in contact with the same and thus mores radially outwards, so keeping the friction wheel 16 at all times at the same radial distance as the internal periphery of the coil 5.

The arm 24 is hinged at 27 to enable its end carrying the roller to be inserted into or withdrawn from the interior of the coil 5. A ball 28 or other anti-friction bearing is provided at the bottom of the roller 25 and the arm 24.- is adjustably counter-weighted by a rod 29 pivotally clamped at 30 so that it can be positioned to exert pressure with, or oppositely to, the arm 24. It is important that the roller 25 should not bear on the picture area of the film, which would tend to wear or mark the same; andaccordingly said. roller is cut away at its mid-part 31 opposite the picture bearing area of the film, leaving the ends 32 to contact with the marginal strips 33 of the film.

The carrier 6 is preferably horizontally rte placing the coil 5 upon it and also to permit the roller 25 to be retained in place by gravity. In order to prevent the internal. turns of the coil 5 from lifting and so becoming improperly positioned in regard to the surfaces 32 of the roller 25, said roller is formed at its upper end with a flange 341: which overlaps a few turns of the coil.

11; is essential for the proper working of the apparatus that the elocity ratio between the friction wheel 16 and the carrier 6 should be accurate to a very high degree. As an illustration, it may bementioned that. with a film 1500 feet long, a discrepancy in the radial distances of the roller 25 and the friction wheel 16, equal to the thickness'of the film, would result in the loop 9 being varied in length by nearly 5 inches. The

drawings show two adjustments for the accurate setting of the friction wheel 16 in relation to the roller 25. For first setting the fr ction disc, the same is mounted. on the effect a linear adjustment of the wheel along the shaft of roughly .0003 of an inch. This adjustment would be employed for first setting the apparatus in the manner hereafter described. For enabling the operator to malts fine adjustments whilst the appara tus is at work the connection between the strait 10 and the slipper 22 is made by the screw spindle above referred to. The screw 21 has a fine thread of, say, 48 to the inch; and the spindle 20 is fitted with a hand wheel 37 of large diameter which is-held in position by a spring detent 38 taking in notches, of which there may be say 112, on the periphery of the hand wheel 37.

lhis arrangement enables the operator at on said shoulder, exerts the necessarysliht driving pressure on the friction disc. he friction wheel 16 is thus virtually diminished in diameter by an amount which, though small, must be taken account of, and whirh must be prei 'ented from materially varying. To this end the adjustable counterweight 20 is provided to control the downward pressure of the arm 24: and roller on the :arrier 6.

in order to permit the insertion of the roller 525 into the interior of the coil 5, the iitial internal diameter of said coil is made atc-r than is at present usual with cinemat- 1h coils; a diameter of about 1 inches haying been found convenient. The reel 8 upon which the used coil is wound is ac'- cordingly formed with a core 42 of about this diameter. The precise diameter of said core is, however, immaterial since the roller automatically adjusts thefriction wheel 16 to whatever diameter of coil is placed upon the carrier 6. Said core 42 is also made collapsible in order to facilitate theremoval of the used coil from it. For this purpose it is formed of a spring strip rigidly secured at one end to the cheek 43 of the reel 8. Said strip springs outwards against stops 44 on said cheek 13 which determine its maximum diameter. The ends of the strip are formed with ears 45 by pressing which together the core is collapsed, so permitting the used coil to be withdrawn from it without force, .The extreme endsattf of all . ing the coil upon its c ritely cen v er 5 hy me F or this purpose of its external periphery.

there is hown a device in the nature of an iris di consisting of a, nut. er of .segr s 1! each secured at one end to the carrier 6 and at the other end to a rotatable ring l8. Such a device provides a considen able range of expansion and contraction whilst at all times presenting an inner periphery closely approximating to circle. In view of the explained mechanical accu racy necessary for the succ ssful. operation of the device it is important that the peripheral surfaces 32 of the roller should not come into contact with the iris diapl'iragm or other parts of the carrier when the last coil of the unused film is withdrawn and to this end the central part 31 of the roller is an ranged to contact with the iris diaphragm and keep said surfaces32 out of contact with parts of the mechanism. As a meas ore of safety there is provided, on a standard 49, a platform which limits the downward movement of the weight 26 and which can be adjusted by the operator with regard to the external diameter of the film coil 5 that movement of the slipper 22 ceas when the last few turns of coil. are shout to hoiprojected.

In first settino the. device there is centered upon the carrier 6 a metal form 51 Fig. V} having the same internal diameter as the standard unused coil. which would. he used upon the machine. If the direction wheel 16 has a resilient peripheral portion, said form 51 would also he made of about the same weight as full. coil of film so as to impress said peripheral portion to about the normal extent. The roller is then place-fl in contact with the internal periphery of the form, the prime mover 4: is rotated. and the revolutions of the prime mover and the ca? rier 6 are counted. The standard speed of projecting film feet per minute and the standard angular speed of the crank handle 4 is revolutions per minute. With an internal diameter of 3.819 inches. the form 51 and carrier 6 should accordingly rotate 60 times per minute. The friction wheel. 16 is adjusted longitudinally of the shaft 10 by means of the screw until. this correspondence is arrived at. Then. sinre the radial distance of the friction wheel directly governed by that of the internal periphery of the coil. 5. the apparatus will deliver film substantially at the desired linear speed for any diameter within its range. The operator can observe the loop 9 during; projection and should he find either a decrease or increase in its size he can at once make the necessary fine adjustment to correct it by means of the hand Wheel 37.

'radiall on the frame said friction wheel 11 f lveing rigidly connected to the carria e Tor 'coil carrier mounted the The film having he! roller 8 is at once in cl upon the carrier 5 and led dough th ector 1. without r" ndsn l"? ction wheel 16 2::

1111161 radial position. volved to facilitate the i111,- wheel 16 across it.

claim. 1. ln cinematograph apparatus hination with a frame, of a coil mounted to rotate thereon about a subsr tially vertical axis and providing a friction disc a driving shaft mounted radially on the frame. a friction wheel on the shaft en 8 the friction disc and movahle re -i ally of the car means adapted to on, the interior of film on the carr and mow ahle radially rigidly with the friction whee as the film uni and from the center 0-; the coil, and dining meclmnism for the shaft. I

2. ln cinematog aph appa true. the con hination with a of a coil carrier mounted to rotate thereon about a substanso tially vertical. axis and providing a friction disc a driving' shaft mounted lllfllztl j-f on the friction wheel on the shaft engaging the friction disc, a carriage movable radial movement an armpivo riage and car-yin at its end a roller ed to enter a film coil on the car. r .i govern the radial movement of the arrizare,

.l driring mechanism for the sha 3. In cinematorgr'aph aj iperatua the cone hination with a frame, of an open topped on for rotation about a vertical axis, a on slidalole on the frame radially of the carrier a pivoted arm extending from the carriage towards the carrier and carrying, a roller-arranged to make c ntact with the inter or of a film coil on the carrier. a shaft slit .ole radially of the carrier and connect-er. for such sliding movement to the carriage. a friction wheel on the shaft and engaging the under surface of the carrier, and gear wheel mounted on the frame for rotational movement only an engaging the shaft to rotate the same.

4. The process which consists in delivering film from the internal periphery of the unused coil, passing said film through projector. rotating the unused coil at an. angular speed governed by the internal diameter of said. unused coil and Winding the film upon the external periphery of the used coil.

5. In cinematograph apparatus, the com bination with a projector and mechanism for feeding film therethrough, of a carrier for unused film. variable speed friction gear for driving said carrier with the film feedmechanism, and means adapted to he held-in contact with the internal periphery of a film coil on the carrier for governing the variable speed friction gear as the film is unwound from the center of the coil.

6. In cinematograph apparatus, the combination with a projector and mechanism for feeding film therethrough, of a rotatable carrier for unused film, a friction disc rotating with the film carrier, and a friction wheel engaging the friction disc and driven. at a uniform speed relatively to the film feeding mechanism, said friction wheel bein g' traversible radial y of the friction disc in accordance with t internal diameter of the coil. on the carrier as the film is un wound from the center of the coil.

7. In cinemato raph apparatus, the cons bination with a projector and mechanism for feeding .film therethrough, of a rotatable film carrier, friction disc rotating with the film carrier, means to make contact with the internal periphery of a coil on the carrier, and a friction wheel engaging the friction disc and arranged at the same radial distance as said. contact means, said friction wheel and contact means being rigidly connected and being movable radially of the friction disc, as the film is unwound from the center of the coil.

8. In cinematograph apparatus, the combination with a projector, a prime mover,

film feeding mechanism positively driven by said prime mover, a shaft positively driven by said prime mover, a friction .wheel on said shaft and movable axially thereof, a rotatable carrier for unused film, a friction. disc rotatable with said carrier, said friction wheel engaging said friction disc and being movable radially thereof, and means controlled by the internal diameter of a coil on the carrier for restraining outward movement of the friction wheel as the film is unwound from the center of the coil.

9. In cinematograph apparatus, the combination with a projector, a prime mover, film feeding mechanism positively actuated by said prime mover, a shaft positively rotating with said prime mover, a rotatable carrier for unused film, a friction disc rotatable with said film carrier, a friction wheel on said shaft, said shaft being movable longitudinally to shift the friction wheel radially of the friction disc said friction wheel being minutely adjustable longitudinally of the shaft.

10. In cincmatograph apparatus, the com-- bination with a projector, a prime mover. film feeding mechanism positively actuated by said prime mover, a rotatable carrier for miused film, a friction disc rotatable with said film carrier, a friction wheel engaging said friction disc and positively rotated by the prime mover, means to contact with the internal periphery of a film coil on the cznrrier, said contact meansand the friction wheel being movable together radially of the carrier and the friction disc, and means for minutely adjusting the relative radial positions of the contact means and the friction wheel.

11. In cinematograph apparatus, the combination with a projector, film feeding mechanism therein, a rotatable carrier for unused film, a friction disc rigid therewith, a shaft positively rotating with said film feeding mechanism, a slipper movable longitudinally with theshaft, an arm pivoted to said slipper and carrying a roller adapted to enter the interior of afilm coil on the carrier, and a friction wheel rigid with the shaft and engaging the friction disc, and the shaft and associated partsbeing movable radially of the friction disc and the film carrier.

12. In cinematograph apparatus, a film carrier, variable speed friction gear for driving the same, means governing the friction gear and adapted to contact with the internal periphery of a film coil on the carrier, means tending to move said contacting means radially outwards with respect to the film coil and adjustable means for limit :ing the outward movement of said contact-- ing means.

13. In cinematograph apparatus, the combination with a projector, of a prime mover, a carrier for the unused coil driven by said prime mover, a ring rotatable on the carrier. and a plurality of arcuate bars each pivoted to the carrier at one end and to the ring at the other end, said bars defining an ap proximately circular space centrally of the arrier for the reception of a film coil.

In testimony whereof I affix In signature.

EDWARD JOH WAY. 

